Heyes lay on the bed farthest from the door, as his partner stomped round, undressing as he did so. Finally after placing his gun on the headboard of the second bed in the room, the Kid turned to him, his face furious and Heyes still didn't speak, because he knew there was really nothing he could say that would help make things better. Tonight he'd messed up and they both knew it.
"You just had to push it didn't ya, Heyes? All we needed was enough for a three night stay in warm beds, a hot meal at least once a day, and maybe something left for a bath and a shave. The Kid paused in his tirade and walked over to Heyes' bed before continuing. " You know what makes it worse? You had enough for that, three deals before you was busted. I told ya, but you ignored me, and now we got nothing!" He stopped again and took a deep breath, before adding more quietly, though his face was still clearly expressing his irritation. "Leastwise we paid for tonight when we checked in!" He trailed off, obviously waiting for some kind of reply, and when none was forthcoming, after a few steadying breaths he asked. "You gonna say anythin'?"
Heyes feeling both exhausted and frustrated, simply shook his head as he said. "Ain't nothing coming to mind Kid, leastwise nothing that won't just make you madder anyways."
The Kid stared at him before lying down and pointedly turning away. After a few minutes of staring at his partner's stiff back, Heyes blew out the lamp and tried to fall asleep, but rest remained elusive despite his weariness. So instead, he just stared at the ceiling listening slightly enviously to his partner's even breathing.
Finally, he must have drifted off, because when he woke daylight was shining through the thin curtains. He'd been woken by a dream of his friend striding away without looking back and disappearing into a dense fog, that Heyes couldn't even begin to penetrate. He was relieved when a slightly nervous glance towards the door reassured him that the Kid was still fast asleep in the other bed.
Maybe feeling, Heyes' eyes on him, the Kid stirred and twisted to look at him, his face less angry than Heyes had expected as he said. "I got a dollar in my boot, which will buy us both breakfast and me a box of bullets."
Heyes managed a small smile, relieved his partner was for the most part more forgiving then he perhaps deserved sometimes. "I ain't real sure 'bout the bullets, I already got one hole in my hat."
"Like I'd a waste a bullet on that old thing, Heyes." He paused then added more gently. "You know, Heyes, you don't have ever have to prove anything to me. It ain't like I don't know you're not always as smart as you think you are."
Heyes hearing the affectionate amusement in his partner's voice, despite the less than kind words, laughed softly before adding. "You sure got a way with words, Kid."
"Well, you kinda learn a thing or two, when your partner is Hannibal Heyes." With that the Kid swung his legs over the side of the bed and said. "Now I'm hungry, and you gotta think of a way to win back some of that money we lost last night so time we got movin'."
After they'd dressed and were heading to the door, realising to his annoyance that he still needed some reassurance that everything was really all right between them, Heyes took a deep breath, and laid a hand on his friend's shoulder. The Kid stopped and turned to look at him.
Heyes swallowing round a sudden lump in his throat at the fond, if slightly exasperated affection clear on his face, said with real gratitude. "Thanks, Kid."
The Kid's expression shifted and he broke into a small smirk, though his eyes were still warm. "Well, maybe next time I get forced into a fast draw, you'll remember this and not give me such a hard time."
Heyes flashed his most innocent smile, and the Kid shrugged lightly, before shaking his head with a soft snort, and exiting the room. On his heels, feeling mostly content that things were back to normal, Heyes grinned as he replied. "Well, miracles do happen, Kid."
Over his shoulder the Kid threw a "Don't push it, Heyes."
As there was no real heat to his tone, Heyes felt his world finish settling back on an even keel, and the last remnants of his unnerving dream, which no longer felt like a warning, faded, allowing him to reply with his usual slightly smug tone."Me?"
As they went down the stairs, Heyes' head was already filling with ideas of just how he'd get their money back, so he could treat the Kid to the birthday he'd been thinking of when he'd pushed just that little too far. In less than a week his partner would turn thirty. And because there'd been times when Heyes had feared he'd not make it past twenty five, that was a day worth celebrating right.
